Apple Climbs To 4th In Notebook Sales

[Zadillo]

Well the plastic is painted, obviously in some way. The MBP is silver, that can peel off. Several people here have reports on that, even after short use. On the MB the glossyness disappears in areas and it looks like the unit has been scratched by a screwdriver or something, although it has been taken care off like a baby.

And sorry, but I am not customer supporter for those friends - if they want to take it to Apple I'll let them decide, but my guess is that Apple will just blame it on wear and tear.

Are you claiming the MBP is painted silver or something? That's the first I've heard of it. Pretty sure it's all metal. Which parts of it have paint on it? Can you point to some of these reports?

Regarding the MacBook, it's hard to say without seeing it.

I have a hard time seeing how it could look like it was scratched by a screwdriver and worn down if it was taken care of like a baby though.

 

[Zadillo]

I think people just don't want to spend $500 more for the same computer they could get from HP or w/e. Mac OS X is GOOD, but honestly I haven't seen anything super revolutionary. It is a step up in terms of GUI from Windows, but as far as trying to do simple things like word documents it gets complicated with using that whole neo-office. Also .Mac you have to pay for and an email app like Outlook doesn't come with OS X. Those are the 2 main things people use computers for and gaming. So unfourtanately it will be a while before we see Apple at the top b/c of that.

You can't get a machine like the MBP from HP or "w/a" for $500 less.

You don't have to use NeoOffice with the Mac, you can use Office (or the upcoming Office 2008). Not sure how that is more complicated.

You don't have to pay for .Mac; it's a completely optional service.

OS X comes with an e-mail app. Mail.app.

Outlook doesn't come with Windows either.

-Zadillo

 

[Ish]

Thanks. I actually created that thread for exactly this reason, because of claims like this ("I can configure a Dell that is exactly the same for hundreds less"), to say that "no, you can't" and "even with the same specs or even better specs, a 6.4 pound 1.45-1.65" thick Inspiron 1520 isn't "exactly the same" as an MBP.

You're welcome. I used your thread to bring some balance into the argument but I couldn't be subjective because I'd never actually used one. You're right about the aesthetics. Sleek MBP v clunky Dell has to count for something.

 

[mikehokie]

You can't get a machine like the MBP from HP or "w/a" for $500 less.

You don't have to use NeoOffice with the Mac, you can use Office (or the upcoming Office 2008). Not sure how that is more complicated.

You don't have to pay for .Mac; it's a completely optional service.

OS X comes with an e-mail app. Mail.app.

Outlook doesn't come with Windows either.

-Zadillo

This is what I mean. I get people jumping on my back whenever I make any statement criticizing Apple at all.

Actually I could get a machine from HP or somewhere else hardware wise better. 512 MB VRAM, 8600M, 400 GB HDD, ect. I don't doubt that the hardware would be utilized to it's fullest potential due to Windows.

 

[Zadillo]

Actually I think the "faulty rate" on this site is more down to people here being more picky than the average user. Both friends I know with MBs would almost certainly have accepted the MBP with bleeding backlight that I received today and live with it, but users here are enthusiasts and don't accept that. So yes, I would guess the error rate - if you are picky - is pretty high on these things. And I am not saying there aren't any problems with Dell's etc too, of course there are. I just expect more from Apple, but apparently I shouldn't. The only Dell owner I know is me, and thats a 15" - screen is evenly lit and have no defects, paint is not peeling off or anything. But its not very good, which is why I want a MBP.

That's actually an interesting point, and one I didn't notice until I owned a Sony Vaio S360. When I had it, it had a few problems, the biggest of which was a rattling loose battery. I was kind of surprised when I went to the Sony forums and found that people were "solving" this problem with velcro strips and other things.

I asked them why no-one complained to Sony about it, and it's like it just didn't even occur to anyone.

But if Apple released a laptop with a loose rattling battery, there'd be endless complaints about it, criticism of Apple, demands that Apple replaces the machines, etc.

Not saying that Apple hasn't had legitimate issues, but I think a lot of the things that people have returned their machines for are things that other laptop owners seem to just deal with. I've seen Mac owners call their machines defective and demand replacements for single dead pixels.

Heck, just looking in Asus forums for example, tons of complaints about the screen quality of the A8J, but not a lot of people calling their machines defective or asking for replacements.

I don't think you're wrong to expect more from Apple, and I'd argue that you do get more with them as well. But I am getting this sense that people are making it out like Apple is shipping more crappy quality laptops than anyone else, and I don't think it's true.

 

[Zadillo]

This is what I mean. I get people jumping on my back whenever I make any statement criticizing Apple at all.

Actually I could get a machine from HP or somewhere else hardware wise better. 512 MB VRAM, 8600M, 400 GB HDD, ect. I don't doubt that the hardware would be utilized to it's fullest potential due to Windows.

I'm not jumping down your back, but please tell me exactly what HP you are talking about.

Please find me an HP that is 1" thick, weights 5.4 pounds, has a 15.4" LED-backlit screen, has an 8600M GT (256MB VRAM would be fine, I haven't seen many people selling an 8600M GT with 512MB VRAM)...... dual hard drives (to get 400GB) aren't necessary either).

And that costs $500 less than the MBP's Apple is selling.

Or if you can't find it at HP, please find one from any other laptop maker (Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Gateway, Acer, etc.).

-Zadillo

 

[synth3tik]

Well good for Apple. There is nothing sexier then a MBP

 

[Ish]

Are you claiming the MBP is painted silver or something? That's the first I've heard of it. Pretty sure it's all metal. Which parts of it have paint on it? Can you point to some of these reports?

Regarding the MacBook, it's hard to say without seeing it.

I have a hard time seeing how it could look like it was scratched by a screwdriver and worn down if it was taken care of like a baby though.

You're right, the MBP is solid. Wasn't it the old titanium PBs that had the peeling problem. That was ages agol. I've never heard of the problem continuing with the aluminium PBs and MBPs.

I wouldn't like to leave a baby with those people who looked after their laptop like a baby and ended up with it all scratched! I've had my PB for about two and a half years and taken it all over the place but it still looks as good as new.

In all fairness, I would say that we have a Dell laptop in our household for business use which is used continuously (not by me!) and when it broke down the customer service was excellent and they actually came out to fix it.

 

[Ish]

Are you claiming the MBP is painted silver or something? That's the first I've heard of it. Pretty sure it's all metal. Which parts of it have paint on it? Can you point to some of these reports?

Regarding the MacBook, it's hard to say without seeing it.

I have a hard time seeing how it could look like it was scratched by a screwdriver and worn down if it was taken care of like a baby though.

You're right, the MBP is solid. Wasn't it the old titanium PBs that had the peeling problem? That was ages ago. I've never heard of the problem continuing with the aluminium PBs and MBPs.

I wouldn't like to leave a baby with those people who looked after their laptop like a baby and ended up with it all scratched! I've had my PB for about two and a half years and taken it all over the place but it still looks as good as new.

In all fairness, I would say that we have a Dell laptop in our household for business use which is used continuously (not by me!) and when it broke down the customer service was excellent and they actually came out to fix it.

 

[gauchogolfer]

This is what I mean. I get people jumping on my back whenever I make any statement criticizing Apple at all.

I think you get people jumping on you when you are talking nonsense.

As emphasized already, OS X has a Mail application, you can install Office just like you can with Windows, etc.

Just say no to FUD.

 

[Simon R.]

You're right, the MBP is solid. Wasn't it the old titanium PBs that had the peeling problem? That was ages ago. I've never heard of the problem continuing with the aluminium PBs and MBPs.

I wouldn't like to leave a baby with those people who looked after their laptop like a baby and ended up with it all scratched!

If you read my post you would know that those are NOT scratches, but paint "peeling" spontaneously during regular use/no use....

 

[Ish]

If you read my post you would know that those are NOT scratches, but paint "peeling" spontaneously during regular use/no use....

Okay, but I'm a bit puzzled because as far as I'm aware there's nothing to peel in the MBP . I've heard people complain about the coating on the black MB, is that what you're thinking of? As I mentioned in the part of my post you didn't quote from, years ago there were some complaints of this in the old titanium PB but I believe that later PBs and the MBPs are solid metal.

Can you find some examples of these 'peeling' complaints in the MBPs? I would be interested to see them.

 

[bottleddissent]

I think a lot of it pull from the large amount of young people buying iPods and getting into the Apple brand and the image it represents. A lot of people are annoyed with Apple's TV ads, but a lot also find them to be true. Macs are stylish and hip, and laptops are just awesome. I think Apple is on the rise. I don't know if they're ever reclaim their old, majority position in the computing world, but they're certainly freaking Microsoft out, and that is just bomb.

 

[Sopranino]

If you read my post you would know that those are NOT scratches, but paint "peeling" spontaneously during regular use/no use....

Okay, Simon, pony up with the pictures. If you're are claiming that a MBP (which is made out of UNPAINTED aluminum) is peeling paint, you're delusional! I have a FOUR year old PB G4, which is made of the same materials as the new SR MBP, it is covered in light scratches and mars but not a single fleck of imaginary paint is peeling from it!

It may be different with the MB, although I doubt it as I believe that the cases are colour impregnated injection molded so there should be no paint to peel.

Some of the MB have had a problem with discolouration but that is a different issue that has already been addressed.

Sopranino

 

[bottleddissent]

It is interesting how spoiled we are as Mac users. Apple has set such a high bar for quality and support that we just expect the best all the time. We know if something is wrong we can just go take it in and get a new one. We know that we have the right to have a completely functional and well-built computer. If that right isn't met, we know we have the right to bitch and bring it in.

As for the comments about mac people jumping on people for making anti-mac comments, it's true. We love our computers, and aren't afraid of it. So when you make factually incorrect complaints about our lovely little computers, you best be preparing for a whippin'. And if that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

 

[Sopranino]

.....As for the comments about mac people jumping on people for making anti-mac comments, it's true. We love our computers, and aren't afraid of it. So when you make factually incorrect complaints about our lovely little computers, you best be preparing for a whippin'. And if that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

What??? Who me???

Nahhh

(But you are right)

Sopranino

 

[iW00t]

Are you claiming the MBP is painted silver or something? That's the first I've heard of it. Pretty sure it's all metal. Which parts of it have paint on it? Can you point to some of these reports?

Regarding the MacBook, it's hard to say without seeing it.

I have a hard time seeing how it could look like it was scratched by a screwdriver and worn down if it was taken care of like a baby though.

The wristrest is painted plastic.

 

[Sopranino]

The wristrest is painted plastic.

On what model of computer?

Sopranino

 

[Adamo]

Yes.. But you do have to look at the OS overall Mac OS X is superior to Windows Xp or Vista.

Overall? It's not close, surely? It looks nice, but Windows has it covered, it plays games (rather than the old-hat Mac support, Halo 1 anyone?), it runs thousands of applications on the web (no need to worry if there's a Mac version), has a huge amount of freeware, a decent amount of home office application packs (like Word, Excel etc), a lot are free. XP is unparalled in my opinion.

Umm, two problems with this argument:

no LED backlit screen, no backlit keyboard, no shock sensor

Still, let's think about this for a minute, Apple - this niche manufacturer that's been declared dead more times than Dracula - managed to beat out Dell in notebook sales. That's pretty damn impressive no matter what your personal opinion of the company may be.

Backlit keyboard, a shock sensor and LED backlighting? Really, so what? Can't say I need any of that, or anyone else I can think of. I've never been shocked by my computer, the screen is really a premium thing, as is the backlighting which would personally annoy me, I don't need to look at the keyboard to type, if I did, the screen would provide enough light if I was in the dark.

Apple is not niche, everyone knows who they are, they are mostly famed for iPods, they're the furthest thing from niche. It's all the crazily dedicated Apple fans who masturbate over the look of a computer (and products in general from a company who couldn't give two hoots about them) and want to feel as if they're in some special niche club. There is no such thing as a multi-million/billion dollar company selling millions of product that could be called a niche market.

 

[Wolfpup]

...It's all the crazily dedicated Apple fans who masturbate over the look of a computer (and products in general from a company who couldn't give two hoots about them)...

This is what really disturbs me about so many Apple fans. They put so much more emphasis on looks over how well it actually works, or what's inside.

Looks are a nice bonus, but they're irrelevant if that's all they are. Applies to a heck of a lot more than just computers, at that

 

[Jestered]

My 2 cents....

It is fact that Apple was rated the #1 computer maker in the market (better than all PC mfgrs) when it comes to the # of new computers sent back for exchange or repair for problems out of the box (and I think during the first year of use). No matter what the polls around here seem to say, the fact is if Apple sucks in this area then everyone else is even worse.

As far as Dell goes... I am actually extremely worried about Dell now that M Dell has taken the reigns again. The guy is a genius! One of the first things he is responsible for since coming back to take over the CEO spot is design a new set of Dell computers that are colored! They will have Ruby Red and a bunch of other colorful named colorful computers! That my friends is genius!!!

I keep thinking that has been done before many years back.... Oh well, Michael Dell is a GENIUS!

I will be ok with my overpriced ($200?) MBP. Oh and didn't most people that bought the MBP get a free iPod with it? hmmmmmm......

 

[Rozzolo]

Overall? It's not close, surely? It looks nice, but Windows has it covered, it plays games (rather than the old-hat Mac support, Halo 1 anyone?), it runs thousands of applications on the web (no need to worry if there's a Mac version), has a huge amount of freeware, a decent amount of home office application packs (like Word, Excel etc), a lot are free. XP is unparalled in my opinion.

Backlit keyboard, a shock sensor and LED backlighting? Really, so what? Can't say I need any of that, or anyone else I can think of. I've never been shocked by my computer, the screen is really a premium thing, as is the backlighting which would personally annoy me, I don't need to look at the keyboard to type, if I did, the screen would provide enough light if I was in the dark.

Apple is not niche, everyone knows who they are, they are mostly famed for iPods, they're the furthest thing from niche. It's all the crazily dedicated Apple fans who masturbate over the look of a computer (and products in general from a company who couldn't give two hoots about them) and want to feel as if they're in some special niche club. There is no such thing as a multi-million/billion dollar company selling millions of product that could be called a niche market.

I don't think I can put together such a huge amount of superficial and childish thoughts even if concentrate for 3 days. You simply are not worth a reply.

 

[Killyp]

The top part of the MacBook Pro is coated plastic (not painted). It's a thin layer of aluminium on top of plastic.

The top case and bottom case are aluminium.

 

[DZL]

do these figures include people who've 'bought' (read: returned) their MBP's once or twice already?

seriously, I don't think people are being 'picky' when they expect perfection when they drop 2700-3000K on a laptop. MBP's are supposed to be high-end laptops... yellow-tinted screens, and overheating issues are simply unacceptable. if you work in graphics, these 2 issues alone will drive you away.

some people value aesthetics even over something as critical as good, even, color on their screen. it astounds me.

 

[kastorff]

I voted in that poll, and I accidentally clicked one of the "have issues" choices...when I've had absolutely no issues whatsoever with my black MacBook. But using that poll as a yardstick for Apple quality is a bit of a stretch anyway, there's simply not enough statistical information presented to judge it.